Nozzle for suction cleaners



Oct. 31, 1950 K. A. KENDRICK NOZZLE FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Aug. 11, 1945 INVENTOR. lfilrz1ilwdrick fltto rnqys Oct. 31,1950 K. A. KENDRICK NOZZLE FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledAug. 11, 1945 I N V EN TOR. .15?! ?"2 g jrntzrz'cif Patented Oct. 311950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NOZZLE non SUCTION CLEANERS Karl A.Kendrick, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor,

' by mesne assignments, to Appliance Development Company, Oak Park,Mich., a corporation of Michigan zolai s. (01. 15-420) This inventionrelates to nozzles for vacuum cleaners and the like, bein particularlyconcernedwith the construction of'nozzles for use with remotely locatedsuction apparatus, the

parts being connected by a hose or tube which also, at least inpart,'constitutes thehandle for the nozzle.

A further object is the provision of a nozzle construction having arelatively large active surface area, all of which is rendered effectiveby reason of the novel provision of suction channels so distributedthereover and so interconnected as to define areas of relatively lowerand higher suction, the high suction area being concentrated matteradhering to the surface being cleaned, the

teeth being flush with the bottom of the nozzle and so arranged thatthey can not injure or catch upon delicate materials.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1' is a view partly in central section and r A related objectbottom of the plate forming the cleaning head partly in side elevationof a vacuum cleaner' nozzle incorporating the principles of thisinvention. I V Fig. 2 is a transverse .sectiontaken substantially on theline 2-2 of'Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the parts in a differentposition, I I

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan-view of the cleaning plate certain parts shownin the figures being that the head of the nozzle, through which the airis conducted, via ahollow handle H1 or the like, is comprised of tubularor pipe sections assembled and rotatable with relation to each other.These include an inverted T l2 and a pair of elbows 14-45, the crosshead portion of the T extending into and being rotatablebut-substantially sealed with respect to the elbows. The elbows are attheir other ends secured to a plate It, openings [8 being provided inthe plate through which the elbows project, and in which theymay besecured bywelding or otherwise.

One of the elbow sections, as I5, is provided with a lug or boss 20,tapped for the reception of a set screw conveniently extended into ahandle portion 2|, by means of which the T I2 may be fixed againstrotation when desired.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and '7, the plate I 6 extends the fulllength of the nozzle construction, and projects at its ends'beyond theelbows and. forms the cleaning head. My preferred cleaning head forsurfaces, such as rugs and floors, which do not require brushing; is offlat, plate-like construction, of hard material, such as metal or hardrubber.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the isgroovedto provide airchannels arrangedin a"nov'el manner to restrict and control the air flowthrough and from the various parts of the surface against which theplate is pressed, this being effected by controlling the flow of air tothe eduction openings E8, in a manner which is also dependent upon thepermeability of the surface being cleaned, and thetightness with whichthe plate is pressed against it. Surrounding the openings [8 wallportions as 49 are provided. It will be seen that this and the otherwall or baffle portions may constitute substantially the thickness ofthe plate, which is channeled and relieved to define them, either bymachining or casting. Openings l8 communicate only with a narrow channel42 extending transversely of the plate and connecting such two openings.Walls 41 bounding channel 42 are relieved only by small lateral cut-outopenings 43, which greatly restrict communication with the remainder ofthe plate when the latter is pressed against thesurface being treated.Channel 42 will be seen to constitute the area of highest vacuum, whileon either side of such channel, separated therefrom by the walls 4|, arechannels 45 of lesser vacuum, which also extend across the plate. Whenthe plate is pressed against a surface to which it conforms, air may bedrawn from the channels 45 only through the openings 43, although itwill be understood that ordinarily some air also flows between the walls42' and the surface being cleaned, and directly through the materialbeing cleaned. Channels of lower vacuum are provided nearer the frontand the back edges of the plate, between which and the intermediatevacuum channels 45 angularly disposed connecting channels as 4l48 areprovided, intersecting each other in such fashion as to form upon thesurface of the plate teeth portions having angular ends, as -49, thebottoms of such teeth ,portions being flush with and forming part of thesurface of the plate. These and the other walldefining portions betweenthe channels 42-45 58, lying in a common plane. Channels -48 extend tothe edges of the plate, as also do portions of the channels 45,providing effective air paths through which air and dirt may be drawndirectly from the edges of the plate. This arrangement greatlyfacilitates cleaning in corners, close to walls, furniture and otherobjects.

Considering the entire channel arrangement,

it will be appreciated that their decreasing proportionate area as thedistance from the inlet openings 18 becomes greater, insures relativelyhigh air velocity, and consequently more effective cleaning. This,together with the teeth formed by the angular intersecting channels,insures effectively loosening lint, threads and other objects stickingto the nap of the material, so that when the high vacuum portion ispassed thereover, if not before, such things are readily removed anddrawn into the cleaner,

In addition to the dirt loosening teeth 45-49, it is also sometimesdesirable to provide a more positive nap agitation or scraping action soas to effectively dislodge material adhering tightly to the surfacesbeing cleaned.

Such agitation and scraping is accomplished by the element shown best inFigs. 1, 6 and 7. In these figures, the nozzle structure is shown asprovided with an L-section plate 80 overlying one longitudinal edge ofthe plate I 9 and extending downwardly along such edge, this dependingportion being provided with blunt teeth 5!.

The plate is carried on suitable studs 62 on which it slides freely upand down, being limited in its upward movement by the nuts 33 andsupported in its upward position by a suitable flexible spring 64. Inits upper position, the teeth 6| are Well above the level of the bottomface of the nozzle, as indicated in Fig. 2, but when the plate is pusheddown, the teeth 6| extend slightly below such face as shown in Fig. 3.

Thismovement of the plate 60 is accomplished by fixing to its upper sidea small plate 66 having its forward edge 61 turned up and curved over asshown in Figs. 2 and 3 and its rear edge also turned up as at 88, sothat when the T I2 is rotated downwardly, it strikes these edges ill-88,or one of them, and presses down the plate to the position of Fig. 3. Ofcourse, as soon as the T is moved up again, the plate 60 immediatelyrises.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of the nozzle of Fig. 4 in which themodification consists chiefly in providing a continuous ridge (0 aroundthe outer edge of the nozzle face.

The present application is being filed to take the place of abandonedapplication Serial No. 122,105, filed January 25, 1937.

I claim:

1. A nozzle member for suction cleaners and the like, comprising a platehaving a substantially fiat bottom surface, a pair of spaced aireduction openings extending therethrough, a channel connecting saidopenings, an additional channel extending transversely of the plate andspaced from said first mentioned channel, means providing restrictedcommunication between said channels, a third channel spaced from both ofsaid first mentioned channels, and additional connecting channelsproviding restricted communication between the last-mentioned channeland the second mentioned channel, all of said channels being open to thesaid bottom surface.

2. A nozzle member for suction cleaners and the like, comprising a platehaving a substantially flat bottom surface, a pair of spaced aireduction openings extending therethrough, a channel connecting saidopenings, an additional channel extending transversely of the plate andspaced from said first-mentioned channel, means providing restrictedcommunication between said channels, a third channel spaced from both ofsaid first mentioned channels, and a plurality of additional connectingchannels providing restricted communication between and obliquelyintersecting the last mentioned channel and the second mentionedchannel, and diverging from said first mentioned channel, saidadditional communicating channels providing a greater area ofcommunication between said second and third mentioned channels thanbetween the first and second mentioned channels, all of said channelsbeing open to the said bottom surface.

' KARL A. KENDRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,533,368 Berg Apr. 14, 19251,791,760 Kline Feb. 10, 1931 1,980,438 Riebel Nov. 13, 1934 1,992,238Rose Feb. 26, 1935 2,216,934 Barrner Oct. 8, 1940 2,275,357 Gaines Mar.3, 1942 2,314,081 Dow Mar, 26, 1943 2,348,082 Lofgren May 2, 1944

